William Edward Willett Jr.
October 28, 2010
Mr. William Edward Willett Jr., age 82 of Cottage Street in Century, passed away Tuesday evening October 26, 2010, at a Pensacola health care facility after an extended illness. Mr. Willett was a native and lifelong resident of Century and was a retired cost accountant with International Paper. He was a United States Navy veteran and attended the Faith Bible Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Susan Willett Richey of Gulf Breeze, Robin Willett (Ray) Helms of Milton; two sisters, Carolyn W Councell of Milton, Helen W Bowman of Century; four grandchildren and one great grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his two sisters Louise W Black and Loreen W Swick.
Visitation will be Thursday evening October 28, 2010, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Flomaton Brown-Service Funeral Home Inc.
Funeral services for Mr. William Edward Willet Jr., are scheduled for Friday morning October 29, 2010, at 10 a.m. at Flomaton Brown-Service Funeral Home Inc., with Rev. Robert Barrow and Rev. Gene Stokes officiating. Interment will follow in Flomaton Cemetery with Flomaton Brown-Service Funeral Home directing.
Grace Hawkins McNaughton
October 28, 2010
Grace Hawkins McNaughton, 93, of Pensacola, Florida went home to be with the Lord on October 27, 2010. Grace was born on August 31, 1917 in Eros, LA. As a child she moved to Jay, Florida where she later graduated from Jay High School. After high school, she married and moved to Pensacola.
Grace retired from Federal Civil Service, Pensacola Naval Air Station where she was employed during World War II as one of the original “Rosie the Riveters.” After retirement, she became a member of the Beulah Homemaker’s Club where she enjoyed meeting and crafting with her friends. She and her husband Howard shared interests in travel, antiques and gardening. They treasured time with their family and friends and often entertained at their beach house in Navarre. Grace had an appreciation for the beauty of nature and was an animal advocate. Her grandchildren cherish the happy memories of farm life, summertime at the beach and long nature walks with their grandmother whom they affectionately called “Sweetie”. She will be lovingly remembered for her kindness, strength and wisdom.
Grace was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, John Howard McNaughton; parents, Lonnie and Jewel McPherson Hawkins and a brother, Joseph Mason, Jr.
She is survived by a daughter, Terry Oswald (Roland); a son, John Stephen McNaughton (Carol); five grandchildren, Sharron Grace DeWeese (Robert), Roland Oswald, Jr. (Sheila), Rebecca Ann Ciccarelli (Jim), Brody McNaughton (Missy) and Angela McNaughton-Matthews (Alan); twelve great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 29, 2010 at 10:00 am at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service. Interment will follow at Dixonville Community Cemetery, Dixonville, Alabama with Rev. Roy Chewning , Pastor of Gonzalez Baptist Church officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral service.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 Highway 29 South Cantonment is in charge of arrangements.
Suspect Arrested In Domestic Incident That Led To Shot Fired At Deputy Near Northview
October 28, 2010
The man wanted on domestic violence charges in an incident near Northview High School where a shot was allegedly fired at a deputy is behind bars in Alabama.
Marvin Anthony Haynie, 46, was arrested Thursday afternoon on the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation by Poarch Creek Tribal Police. He is being extradited back to Florida this afternoon. No charges have been filed at this time in connection with the shot fired at the deputy.
Haynie will face a domestic violence battery charged once returned to Escambia County, Florida.
Below is the NorthEscambia.com story from Wednesday morning on the domestic violence incident and shooting.
At least one shot was fired at an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy early Wednesday morning during a manhunt near Northview High School.
Deputies had established a perimeter around York Road as they searched for a domestic violence suspect identified as Marvin Anthony Haynie, 46. At least one shot was reportedly fired from a wooded area toward a deputy’s cruiser, with the round striking the dirt road directly in front of the car. The deputy was not injured and did not return fire.
After searching for Haynie for a couple of hours after the shot was fired, the manhunt was called off.
The incident began with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic violence complaint in the 3000 block of York Road about 7:30 Tuesday night. Haynie’s wife told deputies that he was outside in their vehicle drinking a beer and playing the radio loudly. When she asked him to turn down the radio, she stated that he threw CD’s at her. After exiting the vehicle, he then threw an empty beer can at his wife, striking her in the upper arm, according to the ECSO report. She was not seriously injured.
When deputies arrived, the wife told them that Haynie had gone to a neighbor’s house; the neighbors told deputies that Haynie had fled into a nearby wooded area. Deputies searched the area and at least two homes for Haynie, but were unable to locate him.
At about 11 p.m., the female victim again called the Sheriff’s Office, reporting that Haynie was back at the residence, wet and covered in scratches from running through the woods. The wife alleged that Haynie took beer, Lortab and other medication, and departed in an unknown direction.
Deputies set up a perimeter and called for the assistance of an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit about 11:40 p.m.
About 12:05 a.m. Wednesday, the shot was reportedly fired at the deputy. Deputies maintained their perimeter and continued their search with the K-9.
By 1:45 a.m., deputies returned to the mobile home where the victim reportedly lived and escorted her out of the area to spend the rest of the night elsewhere. By 2 a.m., the manhunt was called off.
Haynie was described as a white male about 5-foot 7-inches tall, 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-colored t-shirt, and blue jean shorts.
York Road is a short, dead-end dirt road east off Pine Barren Road directly opposite Northview High School.
Further details were not available Wednesday morning.
Pictured top: Escambia County Deputy Bobby Cook helps maintain a perimeter in the search for a suspect on York Road about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Rick Scott Scheduled To Appear In Cantonment, Molino
October 28, 2010
Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott will be in Escambia County on Friday as his week-long campaign bus tour continues, and stops have been confirmed for Cantonment and Molino.
Tentative plans call for Scott to make a stop at Plastic Coated Paper on Kingsfield Road at 3:30 p.m. and Fran’s Country Grill in Molino at 5:00 p.m.
Later, he will appear at a “grassroots” celebration at The Pensacola Fish House in Pensacola at 6:35 and at the Pensacola Interstate Fair at 8:15 p.m.
Judge: Suspect Competent To Stand Trial For Police Chase, Death Threat
October 28, 2010
A Century man that led police on a vehicle chase and then threatened to kill a deputy has been found competent to stand trial.
An Escambia County Circuit Court judge ordered a psychological evaluation of Christopher Angelo Phifer, 38, of Field Road Century earlier this year and committed Phifer to a state institution. Following another psychological evaluation, Judge Joel Boles has ruled Phifer competent and set a December trial date.
Phifer was charged with with DUI, fleeing/eluding a law enforcement officer, registration/tag expired more than six months, driving while license suspended/revoked, threatening a public servant, two counts of resisting arrest, possession of weapon by a convicted felon and violation of probation. He is being held in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department report, Deputy James Gilman spotted a Jeep Cherokee occupied by Phifer at McMurray Park in Century at 12:20 am September 6, 2009. When Gilman ordered Phifer to exit the vehicle, Phifer took off in the Jeep, according to the report.
Deputy Gilman gave chase, using his lights and siren as he pursued Phifer down Pond Street, onto Jefferson Street and onto Salters Lake Road. On Salters Lake Road, Phifer hit a washed out area in the road, according to the report, causing his vehicle to roll over. Phifer fled into a wooded area on foot, with Gilman giving chase, also on foot. Gilman tackled Phifer, the report says, and arrested Phifer with the help of deputies Jason Land and Scott Rivkin.
About 10 minutes after Phifer was placed in the back of Gilman’s patrol car, he told deputies he had pain in his arm. Atmore Ambulance was called to the scene, and Phifer was transported to Baptist Hospital where he was treated and released.
A search of Phifer’s Jeep turned up a .22 long rifle cartridge on the driver’s side floorboard.
At the hospital, Phifer told the deputy “Gilman I’m going to kill your a** and you know I have guns,” according to the ECSO report on the incident, and that he intended to kill or put a hit out on Gilman.
Escambia Students Of The Month Named
October 28, 2010
Escambia County Students of the Month for October have been named by the Escambia Association for Administrators in Education. The awards are presented monthly to two students from participating schools.
The following students were named from North Escambia area schools:
- Jim Allen — Jason S. McGowan, fourth grade; Haleigh S. Goodale, fourth grade.
- Molino Park — Michael D. Antrim second grade; Valerie J. Gahimer, third grade.
- Ernest Ward — Kayleigh G. Linam, sixth grade; Liberty D. Peebles, seventh grade; Penny N. Banda, eighth grade.
- Ransom — Hunter G. Nesmith, sixth grade; Madison R. Rondeau, sixth grade.
- Northview — Jessica N. Mahon, 10th grade; Devon L. Cottrell, 10th grade.
- Tate — Anna B. Barlow, 12th grade; Lemard D. Cyrus, 12th grade.
Pictured top: Devon Cottrell and Jessica Mahon, Northview High School’s Students of the Month for October. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Local Halloween Dates: Saturday Or Sunday?
October 28, 2010
Several communities in the North Escambia area are encouraging Trick or Treating for Saturday rather than on Sunday which is Halloween.
A list of Trick or Treat days are below, and on Friday and Saturday, we will publish a comprehensive list of Fall Festivals, Trunk or Treats and other celebrations and events the area.
Florida
- Escambia County, Florida — Sunday
- Century — Saturday, beginning at dusk
- Jay — Saturday, (including downtown), 5-8 pm
- City of Pensacola — Sunday
- Santa Rosa County, Florida — Sunday
- Milton — Saturday
- Gulf Breeze — Saturday
Alabama
- Atmore — Saturday, 5-8 pm
- Flomaton — Saturday, 5-8 pm
- Brewton — Saturday, 5-8 pm
- East Brewton — Saturday, 5-8 pm
- Bay Minette — Saturday
Molino’s Lady Astros Finish Winning Season
October 28, 2010
Molino’s Lady Astros were runner-ups in the recent GulfSouth Fall State Finals.
After losing their third game against Extreme Velocity to fall into the loser’s bracket, the Lady Astros came back with three state wins to make the championship game. In a close game — with seven scoreless innings — the Lady Astro’s fell to Southern of Troy 1-0.
“We played great offense and defense hitting two home runs and one grand slam against Velocity,” Coach Donnie Nicholson said.
The Lady Astros of Molino finished their summer and fall season with a 25-11 record.
The Lady Astros include local players from area schools.
Pictured: (front, L-R) Kayla Rosario (WFHS), Maggie Swinford (Washington), Cat Tucker (Tate), Kiana Rosario (PJC), Jessi Ujvari (Tate), (back, L-R) Coach Nick Rosario, Rachuel Zampino (Tate), Brook Waters (Tate), Piehden Courtney (Escambia), Ronni Renfroe (Tate), Nikki Cody (Pace), Misty Doran (Northview), and Jami Ujvari (Tate). Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bratt Park Completed
October 28, 2010
Work is substantially complete at the new Bratt Park on West Highway 4, and the park is open for use.
The 13-acre park includes an eight-foot wide, seven-tenths of a mile walking track, a well equipped playground and two covered pavilions with picnic tables.
The park also includes two softball fields, a full basketball court and exercise and rest stations positioned along the track. The softball fields will not be lit for night play; in fact, the park’s hours will follow that of other county parks — sunrise to sunset.
The park was funded with $200,000 in LOST (local option sales tax) monies set aside for the park’s construction. Bratt Park is located near the First Baptist Church of Bratt, just west of Northview High School.
For more information, or to reserve the park for a birthday party, church event, family reunion or other event, contact Escambia County Parks and Recreation at (850) 475-5220.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Trick Or Treat Today At Century Care Center, Town Hall; Library Pet Parade
October 28, 2010
There are three early opportunities for trick or treaters this afternoon in Century.
- Kids can trick or treat at the Century Town Hall from 2-4 p.m. inside the lobby.
- Next door, the Century Library will hold a people-Friendly Pet Parade with goody bags and a fun craft to take home from 4 p.m. until. Dress yourself and your “people-friendly” dog or your favorite stuffed animal for the kids and pet parade.
- Century Care Center will host a fall festival complete with a haunted house, costume contest, cake walk, games, prizes food and trick or treating for the kids from 2-8 p.m. Thursday.
Coming up Friday and Saturday on NorthEscambia.com, we will have a complete list of Fall Festivals, Trunk or Treats and other events across the area this weekend.